Seal cutting device



\ Jan. 7, A, A BJORK 2,227,421

SEAL CUTTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 17, 1938 W fly 44 Patented Jan. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a means for breaking the seal of bottle closures such as employed upon whiskey, wine, gin and similar liquor bottles requiring a governmental seal as Well as a plastic or other seal to prevent substitution of the contents,

. and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a cutting device which will effectively break a seal of a bottle closure whether it be of a plastic or metallic character.

It is also an object of theinvention to provide a sealcutting device which may also be used as a closure of the bottle, if desired.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a seal-cutting device which may be constructed as a portable or fixed device.

Additional objects, advantages and `features of invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a vertical sectional view along a broken line through my seal cutting device.

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view.

Figure 4 is a modified form of the cutting device.

Figure 51s a front view thereof.

Attention is ilrst directed to Figures 1-3 Wherein there is shown a cup III formed from resilient sheet metal and of a diameter to be admitted over the closure cap oi a bottle, preferably oi a. snug fit. i The cap l0 has an inwardly turned flange l I, serrated as at l2 to provide circumferentially extended cutting teeth. The cap I0 is provided with vertically extended tapering slits I3 extending to a point above the horizontal medial axis of the cap and each slit preferably terminates in a circular portion I4 reducing liability of splitting or fracture of the metal of thecap during repeated operations.

In Figure 1, I have preferred to illustrate a heavy plastic seal I5 upon a bottle neck I6, although this might` readily be a tin-foil or cellulose seal as so often found upon bottles. In use, the cap l0 is slipped down upon the seal until the teeth or serrations I2 are approximately (Cl. 30m2) aligned with the lower edge of the cork or other closure ofthe bottle. The cap is now compressed, forcing the serrations into the seal. Either the cap or the bottle is now rotated and it will be obvious that the seal will be readily severed, perli mitting extraction of the cork. At suitable points upon the outer periphery of the cap ribs lla are formed, alording a ready grip for rotating the cap.

If desired, the cutting device may be used as a closure for the bottle, since suicient of the governmental seal will be exposed.

In Figures 4 and 5 a xed or stationary type is shown suitable for mounting upon a wall or the like. In this form, the cap l0 is provided with a suitable number of apertures for reception of mounting fasteners l'l, whereby the device may be rigidly secured to a Wall, as at IB.

As may be seen in Figure 5, the flange I9 extends only half way of the circumference oi' the cap, the upper forward portion of the cap being cut away, as at 20. to readily admit the bottle closure therein. In this form, the vertical slits are omitted and the cutting action of the seal is accomplished by exerting a downward pressure 25 of the bottle cap or seal upon the teeth I2-a. Preferably, the teeth |2-a will have an opposite inclination best suited to cut through the seal, regardless of direction of rotation of the bottle.

While I have shown and described preferred constructions oi the device, this is by way of illustration only and I consider as my own all such modifications as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A cutter for removing the closure seal of bottles comprising a resilient metallic cap having a cir-` -cumscribing side wall, said wall having upwardly tapering slits stopping downwardly of the top portion of the cap and terminating in enculer portions, said slits being positioned in opposed relation, and said side wall having an inwardly turned serrated flange at right angles to the side wall, said flange being divided by the respective slits.

L5 ALBIN A, BJORK. 

